Georgia looking to add several on Signing Day

Forget about Georgias 10-game winning streak last fall. Offseason uncertainty surrounding coach Mark Richt and the Bulldogs 0-2 start in 2011 have led to more recruiting volatility than usual. Georgia had 17 commitments through Monday night, including the top-rated recruits in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida (according to various recruiting services), but would like to sign at least six to seven more on National Signing Day on Wednesday. And that has led the Bulldogs to uncharacteristically pursue players who have committed to other schools and go hard after recruits who dont plan to announce until the last minute. Typically Georgia likes to have the majority of its class committed by football season, if not midway through, said Chad Simmons, a national recruiting analyst for Fox Sports. There is, potentially, a third of the class out there, still. If everything goes their way on signing day and I doubt theyll get every kid theyve targeted they could get as many as seven or eight more commitments. The hesitancy of this years recruits can be traced back to the 2010 season, when the Bulldogs finished 6-7, their first losing record under Richt. That led to daily rumors about the job status of Richt and his staff last winter. Despite that, the Bulldogs finished strong in recruiting with a 26-member class that was rated No. 5 in the country by scout.com and featured an in-state Dream Team. But then Georgia lost to Boise State and South Carolina to open 2011, losing perhaps the momentum they had gained in the offseason. Recruiting happens in spurts, Simmons said. You definitely see some momentum (now), but its hard (for Georgia) to have a great surge because they are in on so many kids who are going to decide so late in the process. Theyve really just loaded up and plan to go to war on Wednesday and see what happens. Their best surge or momentum swing could happen on Wednesday, which is not bad, but you just dont want it to go the other way. You would be left out in the cold, because there are no more days left in recruiting. Georgias plan worked perfectly Tuesday night, when Sheldon Dawson, the top-rated player in Tennessee, decided to go with the Bulldogs. Dawson, who could play cornerback, safety or running back in college, had committed to his hometown Memphis Tigers, but changed his mind when coach Larry Porter was fired in late November and re-opened the recruiting process. Dawson adds to a unique group for Richt, who also has commitments from the top-rated player in Georgia (linebackerdefensive end Jordan Jenkins), the top-rated player in Florida (offensive tackle John Theus) and the top-rated player in North Carolina (running back Keith Marshall). Georgia is also focusing on a number of players who have committed to other schools. That group of in-state players includes receiver JaQuay Williams (Auburn), defensive end Josh Dawson (Vanderbilt), offensive lineman Brandon Greene (Alabama) and linebacker Kenderius Whitehead (N.C. State). Memphis cornerback Will Redmond, who has committed to Mississippi State, also is on Georgias list, as are uncommitted linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, offensive lineman Avery Young and JUCO receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. The Bulldogs also have taken hits from receiver C.J. Curry, who changed his mind and committed to Oklahoma State, and from offensive lineman Chester Brown, who reportedly de-committed because of a Georgia Board of Regents policy regulating the admission of undocumented students. Simmons said Richt needs to finish strong to give his class the depth of programs like Alabama and LSU. Georgia can compete in recruiting with anyone when it comes to those top 8 to 10 prospects, he said. Where some of those other schools separate themselves is what they do with those final 10 to 15 spots. Its not just filling bodies and all that. You have to get football players, quality athletes and guys with positional need. Definitely at the top, Georgia is doing quite well. Can they finish what they started? Thats the question.